Addressing mechanism



P. F. COX.

ADDRESSING MECHANISM (SLUG).

APPLICAHON men OCT I6. I919.

Patented June 22, 1920.

4 SHEETS-SHEET l.

n Daniel P. F. COX.

ADDRESSING MECHANISM (SLUG).

APPLICATION FILED OCT. I6. I919.

Patented June 22, 1920.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

P. F. COX.

ADDRESSlNG MECHANISM (SLUG).

APPLICATION FELED OCT. I6. I519.

Patented June 22, 1920.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

anucnfoz ovum P. F. COX.

DRESSING H IS rwucmon T- FIL UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ADDRESSING MECHANISM (SLUG).

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented June 22, 1920.

Application flied October 16, 1918. Serial 170. 331,152.

To all whom it may concern: I

Be it known that I, PAUL F. Cox, a cit zen of the United States, residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Addressing Mechanism (Slug) and I hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description thereof, reference being bad to the accompanying drawings, which form part of this specification.

This invention is a novel mechanism for addressing articles, such as envelope packages, newspapers, and the like, by printlng thereon or applying to each of such articles the address of the person for whom it is intended.

The invention is adapted for use in connection with printing presses and other mechanisms handling articles so that when the articles are delivered they are also addressed and ready for mailing.

The invention provides an addressing mechanism which is particularly designed for attachment to a newspaper printing press and adjacent the folder former so as to print different addresses upon successive impressions or newspapers as they pass down the former, and preferably before the web is severed, and before the printed sheets pass into the folding rolls.

When the novel mechanism is attached to an ordinary printing press or newspaper press the web handling mechanism of the press serves as the feeding and delivery mechanism for the addressing attachment and the power mechanism of the press serves as the actuating means for the addressing mechanism. The addressing mechanism is compact and economical, and can be readily adapted for and applied to any of the standard makes of web printing machines.

I do not consider the invention in its broader aspects restricted "to any specific construction of the addressing mechanism per se; but will explain the same with reference to the accompanying drawings which illustrate one practical embodiment and application of the invention and will enable others skilled in the art to readily adapt and use the invention. The essentials of the invention and novel combinations of parts and novel features of construction, for all of which protection is desired, are set forth in the claims.

In said drawings, Figure 1 is a front elevation of an addressing mechanism attached to the frame of a' printing press in operative relation to the folder former.

Fig. 2 is a top plan view.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged side elevation of such addressing mechanism.

Fig. 4 is a detail top plan view of the feed chute and slug ejecting devices.

Fig. 5 is a diagrammatical .view of web printing mechanism, web folding mechanism, and the addressing mechanism operating upon the web at the former.

The operative parts of the addressing mechanism are mounted in a suitable frame, the particular form of which is not material, provided it affords proper support and bearings for the operative parts of the addressing mechanism.

In the present instance the addressing mechanism is shown as designed to use individual printing members of any suitable kindand shown as slugs or type metal bars A each bearing the name and address or other indicia of the addressee. These slugs are supplied from a feed chute 2, which 15 supported upon the frame 1 in vertical position and can be supplied with the slugs from loading galleys such as are commonly used in the so-called addressing machines now on the market, so that the feed chute may be supplied with these slugs and replenished therewith without stopping the operation of the machine until all the addresses have been printed.

The lower end of the chute 2 rests upon a plate 2 on which is slidably mounted an ejector slide 3, that operates through suitable slots in the front and rear walls of the chute and is adapted to successively eject the slugs from the chute, the slide ejecting the slugs one at a time in the usual manner. In the construction shown the slugs are ejected base first, type outermost, from the chute 2, and to prevent injury to the type the end of the ejector may be recessed as shown, so that it only engages the slugs near the ends thereof without striking the type surfaces.

The slide may be operated by any suitable means. As shown it is reciprocated by means of a crank rod3 pivotally connected with the slide and with a crank pin 3" attached to a rotatable slug carrier 4, keyed on a shaft 4", which is journaled in suitable ants) s ejected from the chute f uul 1n posltmn in EH) ting-,5

1190. to 01' he plate fingers H MP H, frame 1, and rotated as here- 1 k T 1 5L t L. 1 f u w. 1 n i .1 U. H H I i E f. 1 a n In! 1 H h .f x. 1.. i I. 1. ,1. i 0 HVH m 1. 1% n u I 11 C. f 2 H. H W i n. u. .;1 U ruh d H 1 n H4 h wm u ou 1 J r.( nfl rlh V1 t W XH FI QF 1 k S 0 1 0 1 P 4 P i n b n 1.. E .3 y I..! 1 1 H r l E U1; 9 I .1 f. "l lw V L1 9 I I .u HLA up. un V j I... Ii.

being printed is led in the usuai manner, according to the make of press, to the former F, and the addresses are applied thereto as it desrends the former. Then the web is folded between the first foid rolls R, and passed on to the final folding, cutting and collecting mechanisms, not shown, as usual.

F designates the folder former of the printing press; R the usual roiier amounted on a shaft is at the top of the ifl'i'i'iaii l rotated as usuai to assist the Ms W to and over the former Elie driven by gearing {not shown arm "ii- M the shaft E i is a tiered 'i, which carries spring pressed roilers, when rtflitl the web \V in eontaet with the rolier it at the top of the former. Below the shaft H is a bar or rod B which supports the upper end of the former F. All of these parts ore of ordinary eonstruetion and arr u e and are Well known, and wili he reality understood.

In the particular embodiment of the in vention illustrated the addressing att i nient frame eonneeted with and su 'apoin by the rods T and B and supporting; retire 1 and for this purpose is shown as provided with an arm 1, Whieh is secured by a split collar 1 and bolts 1" to the rod T, and its base member 1 is supported upon the lmr l) and detaehably attai'hed there o by damping bolt 1", as indicated in the ing.

The shaft 4 is so mounted ad owner and the length of the slug 1'' proportioned that during the 1*! the ('Pfllitl' the slug will he inked 1, brought into eontaet with the weh VJ passing down the former l and pH. the address upon the paper W prefers in the margins between successive inipr ions,

The shaft 4" is rotated, as hereinafter tlt scribed, at such speed that the speed of movement of the face of the addre g Siuf: carried by carrier 4 equals the speed of travel of the paper over the former, and the impression is therefore made on the int web by the movin" sin". To prevent i; ry to the slugor to the web during the impression I preferably euta small opening in the former F at the point of inipres ion and mount an impression roller 7 at tiilri point beneath the fare of the formezx so that the ini 'iression will he actually made up paper while it is traveling hr :1 slug-find an impression roiler is be rotated by frietion.

The shaft 4* may be driven by any able means when the invention is emimdied in a separate addressing machine or by a' suitable driving connection with driven part of the machine to shit hiressing nieehai is attaete to a printing: 1 li3l1#1;'il-'1=:

should he so driven and the gearing so proportioned that the slugs A on the earrier will he moving at the printing point at the same speed as the paper or artiele to be impressed passing sueh point.

In the example shown, the sha [t P earries a gear l" which meshes with a gear i attsehed to and driven in; the shaft h and the gears i" and i" are so progmrtemwi that the slug carrier will he rotated max "h newspaper or impreion on the pap r when applied to a print l parts adjusted that the mit'ereut miivsses Eli he sueees iz'eiy printed upon g H raid in he margins between so impressions thereon, so that eaeh new spspe; as it passes over the former has the add the individual for whom it is r for printing presses the ear 4 van split and l-olterl to the shaft 5 and the frame l ed to the tie rod T and he! ll a deto position the aildressirg H-FFiHP 1 v .n e the former; and the iuooression roil r T run he attaehed to the under side oi the former in the proper position.

When such an addressing attaehment is appiied to a printing press the papers eau rieiivered theret'rmn addressed to different. parties or destinations, ready for mail l and the neressity for suhseipza its aid s i sueia papers, or pa H ng sueh papers throu h an addressini machine is arr-ideal: a as the loss of time required for such operat ons; and the expense entailed in up srsting separate mg: ma -hint is eiimiuated, The addr ss s are preferably :ipplied to the. zna o? the page of the newspaper whieh will he oute mo when folded, and sastomarily the pits, is so threaded that the outermost page is on the outside l1 1' of paper passing over the former that no rearrangement oi? the for in the press wouid he ordinarily neeessa in ori'le: to use the attachment there with.

[i locating the addressing attaehmeut at the (%BI arid printing: the adtlres upon the papers as they pass over the former the sttaehinent is in the most convenient plare for operation upon the paper; the tltlress ag en es ran he readily Rdjtlhtif'i to cor liij envelops, packages,

of paper after it is printed and before it is severed and between the printing mechanism and the web severing mechanism, so that' no auxiliary mechanism for handling the web or the addressing mechanism is reduired. :i

While I have described the invention as embodied in an attachment for web printing presses and applied to such presses it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that the invention could be readily embodied in a separate machine for addressing letters, and the like. In such case the frame would be properly modified, and means provided for rotating the shaft 4" manually or by power, all of which will be readily understood and familiar with the art;

I claim:

1. In an addressing apparatus; a feed. chute for individual printing members; means for successively ejecting printing members from said chute; spaced fingers projecting beyond the chute onto which the printing members are ejected; and a carrier having spaced fingers adapted to take an ejected printing member from the chute fingers and carry it past the point of impression; substantially as described.

2. in an addressing apparatus; a feed chute for individual printing members; means for successively ejecting printing members from said chute; spaced fingers projecting beyond the chute onto which the printing members are ejected; and a carrier adapted to take an ejected printing member from the said fingers and carry it past the point of impression; substantially as described.

3. In an addressing apparatus; a feed chute for individual printing members; means for successively ejecting printing members from said chute; spaced fingers projecting beyond the chute onto which the printing members are ejected; and a carrier adapted to take a printing member from the said fingers and carry it past the point of impression; with means on said carrier for holding the printing member; means for releasing the printing member after the printing operation; and means for receiving the discharged printing member.

4. In an apparatus of the character specified, a feed chute for the printing members; means for successively ejecting printing members from the chute; spaced fingers projecting to one side of the chute and upon which the printing members are ejected; and a carrier having spaced fingers adapted to pass between the supporting fingers and remove the ejected printing member therefrom: substantially as described In an apparatus of the character specified, a feed chute for the printing members; means for snccessively ejecting printing provided by those members from the chute; spaced fingers projecting to one side of the chute and upon which the printing members are ejected; and a carrier having spaced fingers adapted to pass between the supporting fingers and remove the ejected printing member therefrom; With means on said carrier for bolding the printing member during the printing operation, and means for releasing the printing member after the printing operation.

6. In apparatus of the character specified, a feed chute for printing slugs; areciprocating ejector for successively ejecting slugs from the chute; spaced supporting fingers projecting to one side of the chute and upon which the slugs are ejected; a slug carrier having spaced fingers adapted to pass between the supporting fingers and remove the ejected slug therefrom; means on said carrier for holding the slug during the printing operation, means for causing the gripper to release the slug after the printing operation; a receiving chute for released slugs, and means for packing the slugs in the receiving chute.

7. In an addressing apparatus, the combination of a feed chute; spaced supporting fingers projecting from the feed chute; means for ejecting printing members successively from said chute onto said fingers; a rotatable slug carrier provided with spaced fingers adapted to pass between the slug supporting fingers and remove a slug therefrom; means for holding the printing member on the carrier during the printing operation; means for releasing the printing member after the printing operation; stripping fingers adapted to pass between the fingers on the carrier and discharge the printing member from the carrier after the printing operation; a receiving chute for the the charged printing members; and means operated from the slug carrier shaft for packing the printing members in the receiving chute.

8. In an addressing apparatus the combination of a feed chute; spaced fingers projecting from this chute; means for ejecting sings successively from the chute onto said fingers; a rotatable carrier having circumferential grooves and provided with spaced fingers adapted to pass between the slug supporting fingers and remove a slug thcrcfrom; a clamping member mounted on the slug carrier adapted to grip the slug as it is taken from said supporting fingers and pld it during the printing operation; means for causing the clamp to release the slug after the printing operation; and stripping fingers engaging said grooves to discharge the slug from the carrier after the printing operation.

9. In an addressing apparatus, the combination of a feed galley for slugs; spaced Bu porting fingers projecting from the feed a ley; a slide for e ectin slugs successively mm the galley onto sai fin ers; a rotatable shaft adjacent the said ga ley; a circumferentially grooved slug carrier mounted on said shaft and rotatable therewith and provided with spaced fingers adapted to pass between the slug supporting fingers and remove a slug therefrom; means for holding the slug on the carrier during the printing operation; means for releasing the slug after the printing operation;

and stripnng fingers engaging said grooves and a apted to pass between the fingers on the carrier and discharge the slug from the carrier after the printing operation.

10. In an addressing apparatus the combination of a feed alley for slugs; spaced fingers projecting rom this galley; means for ejecting slugs successively from the galley onto said fingers; a slug carrier provided with spaced fingers adapted to pass between the slug supporting fingers and remove a slug therefrom; means mounted on the slug carrier to clamp the slug during the print ing operation; means for opening the clamp to release the slug after the printing operation; a receiving galley for the discharged slugs; a lever for packing the slugs in the receiving galley, and a cam on the slug carrier shaft for operating said lever.

11. In an addressing apparatus the combination of a feed galle for sin s; spaced fingers adjacent this al ey; a sli e for ejecting slugs successively rom the alley onto said fingers; a rotatable shaft a jacent the said galley; a slug carrier mounted on said shaft and rotatable therewith and provided with spaced fingers adapted to pass between the slug supporting fingers and remove a slug therefrom; a clam mg member mounted on the slu carrier a apted to grip the slug as it is ta en from sai supporting fingers and hold it during the printing operation; means for causing t e clamp gripper to release the slug after the printing operation; stripping fingers adapte to pass between the fingers on the carrier and dischar e the slug from the carrier after the printing operation; a receiving galley for the discharged slugs; and means for packing the slugs in the receivin galley.

12. n combination with printing mechanism and folding mechanism having a former; of means opposite and cod rating with the former for applying 'fierent addresses to different impressions on the paper as it descends the former.

13. In combination with printing mecha' nism and folding mechanism having a former, of means opposite and co-actin with'the former for applying different a dresses on the margins of successive impressions on the pa er as it descends the former.

14. In combination with a web printing mechanism and web folding mechanism having a former, of means opposite and coacting with the former for applying addresses on the margins of successive newspaper impressions on the web while it is passin over the former.

15. n combination with printing mechanism and folding mechanism having a former over which the printed web is passed; of means opposite and co-acting with the former for applying different ad dresses to successive newspaper impressions on the web as it passes down the former.

16. In combination with web printing mechanism and folding mechanism having a former over which the web is passed; of means beside the face of the former for applying different addresses to different newspaper impressions on the web while the web 1s passing over the former.

17. In combination with web printing mechanism and folding mechanism having a former over which the web is passed; of means opposite and co-acting with the former for printing different addresses on the margins between successive newspaper impressions on the web while the web is passing over the former.

18. In combination with printing mechanism and folding mechanism having a former, means in front of the former for applying addresses; and means in rear of the face of the former and cooperating with the address applying means to apply addresses to the paper as it descends the 100 former.

19. In combination with printing mechanism and folding mechanism having a former of means in front of the former for printing addresses on the paper; and im- 106 ression means in rear of the face of the ormer and cooperating with the printing means to impress the paper passing therebetween as it descends the former.

20. In combination with printing -h 110 nism and folding mechanism having a former of means in front of the former for printing addresses on the paper; and a roller connected with the former opposite the printing means and cooperating wlth 115 the printing means to print addresses on the web as it passes down the former.

21. In combination with printing mechanism and folding mechanism having a former; of means in front of the former for 120 rinting addresses, and an impression roller 1n rear of the former opposite the printing means, and cooperating w1th the printing means to print addresses on dlfi'erent newspaperimpressions on the web of paper as it 25 descends the former.

'22. In combination with printing mechani and foldin mechanism havin a former; of an ad ressing mechanism comprising a carrier in front of the former 13.

adapted to carry a printing member and imress it a ainst the paper descending the ormer an then discharge it; means for receiving discharged printing members after printing; and means for operating the addressin mechanism in time with and from the mec anism of the printing press.

23. In combination with printing mechanism and folding mechanism having a former; an addressing mechanism comprising a carrier in front of the .former adapted to carry a printing member and im ress it against the pa er as it descends the ormer; means for fee in printing members to said carrier; means For releasing the printing member after the impression; and impression means in rear of the former face coacting with the printing members to print the web as it descends the former.

24. In combination with printing mechanism and folding mechanism having a former; an addressing mechanism comprising a carrier in front of the former adapted to carry a printing member and im ress it against the pa er as it descends the ormer; means for fee ing printing members to said carrier; means for causing the said carrier to hold the printing member until the imression has been made; means for releasing the printing member after the im res sion; and impression means in rear 0 the former face co-acting with the printing members to print the web as it descends the former.

25. In combination with printing mechanism and foldin mechanism having a former; of an ad ressing mechanism comprising a carrier in front of the former adapted to carry a printing member and imress it against the pa er descending the ormer; means for fee ing printing members tn.said carrier; means on said carrier for taking a printing" member from the feeding means; means on said carrier to hlold the printing member until the impression has been made; means for causing said holding means to release the printing member after the impression; means for receiving discharged printing members after rinting; and means for operating the adressing mechanism in time with and from themechanism of the printing press.

26. In combination with the printing mechanism and folding mechanism having a folder former, and a driven shaft.at the top of such former; of an addressing'mechanism ad'acent the former, eomprlsing a carrier a apted to carry a printing memher. and impress it against the pa or descending the former; means for eeding printing members to said carrier; means for causing the said carrier to hold the printing member until the impression has been made; means for releasing the printing member after the impression; and gearing between the said shaft and the said addressing mechanism to operate the latter.

27. In combination with printin mechanism and folding mechanism inc uding a folder former, and a driven shaft at the top of such former; of means for printing upon the web or sheets descending the former, comprising a carrier adapted to carry a printing member and impress it against the paper descending the former; an impression member beside the former cooperating with the printing member; means for feeding pripting members to said carrier; means on said carrier to hold the )rinting member until the impression has en made; means for causing said holding means to release the printing member after the im ression; means for receiving discharged printing members after printing, and gearing between the said shaft and the said addressin means to operate the latter.

28. In an a dressing apparatus, the combina'ti'on of a feed chute; spaced supportirrg'fingers adjacent the chute onto which the printing members are ejectedf'ineans for ejecting printing members successively from the chute onto said fingers; a rotatable carrier provided with spaced fingers adapted to passfbetween the slug supporting fingers and"remove a printing member therefrom; a gripper pivotally attached to one side of said member adapted to clamp the slug when taken by the fingers; and means or releasing the printing member after the rinting operation; and stripping fingers a apted to discharge the printing member from the carrier after the printing operation.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I aflix my signature. 1

PAUL F. COX. 

